It's possible that it started as a gay coverup and then when it started getting attention, he started using it to his advantage (dying after gmas death).

On another note, you guys seem to know an awful lot of details about "beards" that I never knew. Hmmmmm

Sure, anything's possible I suppose, I just really don't believe it. And like I said earlier, if his first thought when he found out his grandma died was "oh damn, I can say my girlfriend died and get all kinds of hype!" he's an evil person. But I don't think that's the case either.